18 July 2012

I actually like my front flower bed now that the giant sunflower is gone. Everything is in full bloom and looks great. Just a warning - There are a lot of pictures. 

I grew these marigolds from seed I collected last year. Dallas LOVES marigolds so I plant more than I should every year. This is only two plants.

Not the best picture but here are some of my Zinnias I grew from seed, along with Marigolds, Petunias, Russian Sage, Sweet Potato Vines, and one of my baby Ficus tree in the pot.

Cosmos and another view of my Sweet Potato. It is filling in the bare spots very quickly. I think it will become one of my regular plants for the front bed.

The bird bath that was hidden by the giant sunflower.

The other side of the bird bath. This is probably one of my favorite flowers. My Dahlia has moved three times with me and continues to look better every year.

I keep trying to get a good picture of this Zinnia but for some reason it is camera shy. So this is the best I have so far. I grew most of my Zinnias from seed this year and this one really surprised me when it opened its first flower. It is hard to see in this picture but it is almost pure red. I have a lot of orange Zinnias but this is the only red.
I love it!



I don't want to see the ground in my flower beds. I love the way it looks when the plants are mixed together and over flowing the sides of the bed. Unfortunately I have to leave a walking path through this bed. It is too big to work in without it. Maybe I will get used to it but I doubt it.

Giant Sunflower

I can not believe how long it has been since I posted. The summer is just flying by. I have been working in the yard but mostly in the early morning or late evenings. We are just too hot.

Yesterday I asked my Dear Hubby to cut down the sunflower. It was huge and had starting killing all the plants trapped under it. I did not plant it but it really liked the front flower bed. The neighborhood toddlers loved to hide behind it and play in the bird bath. They were so cute splashing around back there when they thought we could not see them. I am sure they will miss the huge thing more than I will.

Giant Sunflower

Dear Hubby by the Sunflower.

Carrying off the plant. He didn't want to stop and let me take pictures. I am just glad he was home to cut it down for me.

Harvest Monday - 9 July 2012

I can not believe how crazy this last week has been. Fun but Crazy.

The garden is producing more than we can eat and my neighbor's are starting to find produce on their front porches.

Basket #1
Potatoes and Squash

Basket #2 - Onions

Potatoes clean and ready for storage.

Cabbage

Dallas pulled more Carrots.

Eggplants

I pulled the last of the Garlic. Some of the Elephant Garlic did not get as big as I thought it would but I am very happy with my little harvest.

Elephant Garlic

Farmer's Market Garlic so I do not know what kind it is.

Stop by Daphne's Dandelions to see what others are harvesting from their gardens!
 

Harvest Monday - 2 July 2012

I don't really know what I am going to do with all the squash I am picking. I know I need to figure it our really fast. It has taken over my kitchen! I did harvest the first of my peppers and cucumbers this week.  

Yellow Squash

Zucchini Squash

Tam Jalapenos

Early White Bush Scallop Squash

Marconi Pepper

Sweet Banana Pepper

Broccoli (side shoots)

Zucchini Squash

Yellow Squash

Eggplant

Armenian Yard Long Cucumber

Early White Bush Scallop Squash

And to finish it off - Tank playing in the water sprinkler and stealing a bite out of a broccoli plant.

 Be sure to stop by Daphne's Dandelions to see what everyone else is harvesting!